Portable work stand

ABSTRACT

A work stand assembly for supporting the mounting unit of a contemporary portable power tool, which assembly has a pair of elongated members attached in a parallel manner to bracket units at each set of ends of the members, with the bracket units supported above a ground surface by collapsible legs, and with the portions of the members intermediate the bracket units exposed for directly receiving and clampingly supporting the mounting unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to a collapsible workstand having a universal mounting assembly for supporting a portablepower tool.

BACKGROUND ART

[0005] 2. Description of the Background

[0006] The conventional work stand for supporting portable power toolsfor wood working purposes has invariable comprised what is generallyknown as a sawhorse, a collapsible table with a flat top or coversecured between end brackets and on which usually is mounted a board,set of rails or other type of bench top for receiving and supportingstructure for in turn supporting a wood working tool.

[0007] Examples of the former are shown in two of my prior inventions;U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,119,903 issued Jun. 9, 1992 and 5,626,3321 issued May6, 1997. The '903 patent discloses a collapsible sawhorse apparatushaving an elongated crossmember supported by pairs of collapsible legs,a conventional 2×4 wood member mounted on the crossmember, typifying the“sawhorse” of the day for supporting one or more types of wood workingtools.

[0008] The '321 patent discloses an improvement of the earlier sawhorseassembly in the provision of a pair of novel clamping assemblies forslidable and adjustable attachment to the sawhorse board for receivingand supporting the wood working power tool.

[0009] Structure for both of these assemblies remain today, however,which is not only unnecessary from a manufacturing standpoint, butcumbersome in use as to excess material, weight and ease of use. It isto the elimination of these unnecessary elements and a continuedimprovement of this type of structure to which this invention isdirected.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is directed to a work stand assembly forsupporting the mounting unit of a contemporary portable power tool, inthe present instance a pair of elongated clamping units adapted to bemounted in parallel relationship normal to the longitudinal extent ofthe top of the work stand, the assembly having a pair of elongatedmembers of substantially identical length disposed in parallel andattached at each set of ends to bracket units, with the bracket unitssupported above a ground surface by collapsible legs, and with portionsof the members intermediate the bracket exposed for directly receivingand clampingly supporting the clamping units, thus eliminating the needfor either a crossmember in the nature of a top piece or a wooden orother material plank or board for supporting the tool mountingassemblies.

[0011] The bracket units are identical, each unit including an endbracket to which the legs are pivotally connected, and a cap membersecured to the end bracket and having opposed channel-shaped sides eachof which forms an elongated chamber with an adjacent side of theattached bracket for receiving one end of a respective member, the otherchamber receiving an end of the other member, the opposed ends of themembers inserted through the chambers formed by the other cap member andend bracket. Extensions may be telescopically connected to the opposedends of the elongated members for adjustably extending each end of thework stand for working with longer pieces of wood or the like.

[0012] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new endnovel work stand for supporting a portable power tool.

[0013] Yet, another object of the present invention is the provision ofsuch a work stand wherein a sawhorse cover of contemporary usage iseliminated.

[0014] Still another object of the present invention is the provision ofsuch a work stand wherein the contemporary use is eliminated of a woodenbeam, plank or the like to which a mounting assembly for a portablepower tool is attached.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is the provision of awork stand wherein merely a pair of elongated parallel members supportedbetween sets of collapsible legs is sufficient for directly clampablyreceiving and supporting a mounting assembly for a portable power tool.

[0016] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail of thepresent invention;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective expanded view of the detail ofFIG. 2, with certain parts shown in phantom;

[0020]FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the element ofFIG. 3;

[0021]FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along theline 5-5 in FIG. 3;

[0022]FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the detailof FIG. 3, taken from below as viewed from right-to-left;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the detail of FIG. 6,with movement of a supporting leg being illustrated;

[0024]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the detail of FIG. 7as viewed from the opposite side;

[0025]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective detail of the center portionsof the elongated tool mounting assembly members of the work stand; and

[0026]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the work stand with mountingassemblies attached thereto for supporting a pair of power tools such asa table saw and a miter saw, the latter shown in dash lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Referring now to the drawings, where like reference numeralsdesignate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,the collapsible work stand assembly of this invention is indicatedgenerally at (20) in FIG. 1.

[0028] The work stand assembly (20) comprises generally first and secondelongated tubular frame members (21), (22) disposed in parallelrelationship to each other and having opposed sets (23), (24) of ends, afirst bracket unit (26) supporting one set (23) of frame member ends anda second bracket unit (27) supporting the other, opposed set of framemember ends.

[0029] A first pair of support legs (28), (29) and a second pair ofsupport legs (31), (32) are provided for supporting the frame members(31), (32) and the bracket units (26), (27) above a ground or floorsurface (not shown) wherein the frame members (21), (22) are disposed ina substantially horizontal manner. The frame members (21), (22) areuncovered and exposed intermediate their opposed sets (23), (24) of endswhich are held by the bracket units (26), (27) for directly clampablyreceiving and supporting a pair of mounting assemblies (33), (34), forsupporting a portable power tool, shown in dash lines at (36).

[0030] As each bracket unit (26), (27) is identical, only one bracketunit (26) (FIGS. 2-4) will be described. The unit (26) comprises atrapezoidal shaped bracket (37) having a flat end piece (38), with flatside pieces (39), (41) and upper tope pieces (42), (43); the side pieces(39) (41) extended at right angles to opposed edges (44) of the endpiece (38) and the top pieces (42), (43) extended inwardly in a commonplane from the upper edges (46) of the side pieces (39), (41).

[0031] A substantially U-shaped fastener (47) ( FIG. 6) has a flatbacking portion (48) which is secured against the inside face (49) (FIG.6) of the end piece (38), and outwardly extended wing portions (51),(52) for pivotal attachment by pivot bolts (53), (54) to the upper ends(56), (57) of each pair of support legs (28), (29) and (31, (32).

[0032] The bracket unit (26) includes further a cap member (58) having aflat middle portion (59) with opening for attaching the portion (59) tothe bracket top pieces (42), (43) (FIG. 3); opposed, U-shaped channelportion (61), (62) extended outwardly and slightly upwardly from theouter edges (63), (64) of the middle portion (59); and opposed flatflanges (66), (67) extended downwardly at right angles from the loweredges of (68), (69) of the channel portions (61), (62). Each flange(66), (67) has a cut-out (71) (FIG. 7) for exposing a slotted opening(72) in a contiguous side piece (39), (41); and has further an opening(73) for alignment with an opening (74) (FIG. 4) in each fastener wingportion (51), (52) and an opening (76) in each bracket side piece (39),(41) through which a leg pivot bolt (53) or (54) is fastened.

[0033] It will be noted that when the cap member (58) is secured to thebracket (37) each channel portion (61), (62) forms an elongated chamberwith an adjacent side piece (39), (41) for receiving, respectively, theouter ends of the frame members (21), (22) in parallel relationship.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be seen that each upper end(56), (57) of each pair of legs has a locking button (77) forautomatically snapping into the slotted opening (72) formed in eachbracket side piece (39) (41) for locking and holding a respective leg(28) or (29) in substantial parallel alignment with the frame members(21), (22) and with a companion leg, and which button (77) may bemanually depressed such that the leg may be moved 90° to a work standsupporting position as shown in full lines in FIG. 7, the button (77)then aligned with the opening (78) formed in each bracket side piece(39), (41) below the upper opening (76). With the leg button (77)snapped into the opening (76), the respective leg is locked and held inits supporting position.

[0035] When folded, the two sets of legs (28), (29) and (31), (32) arealigned in parallel positions below the frame members (21), (22), inanother embodiment one set of legs may be slightly bent, as provided inthe '903 patent, at their upper ends to provide a neatly stackedcondition for storage and transportation.

[0036] To extend the length of the work stand assembly (20) at either orboth ends; an elongated extension member (79), (81) (FIG. 4) is providedfor each tubular frame member (21), (22), each extension member (79),(81) slightly smaller than the frame member (21), (22) and the samecross sectional shape for ease of telescopic movement therein.Adjustable work support units (82) (FIG. 10) with flip stops (83) may beattached to the extension members (79), (81) and each member (79), (81)is provided with a stop element (84) to prevent the member (79), (81)from being moved too far into a respective frame member (21), (22).

[0037] To releasably lock an extension member (79), (81) within arespective frame member (21), (22), each frame member (21), (22) has anopening (86) (FIG. 5) formed in an end (23) thereof, for example, whichend (23) is normally disposed within the longitudinal confines of a capmember (58), and within which a flat washer (87) is loosely but snuglyplaced. Above the opening (86), the cap member (58) is embossed at (88)for receiving a jam nut (89), the embossment (88) open at (91) forreceiving an adjustable knob (92), its stem (93) threaded for insertionthrough the jam nut (89) and engagement with the washer (87). With thejam nut (89) fitted into the underside of the embossment (88), the knob(92) functions as a jack screw such that a tightening of the washer (87)against the extension member (79), (81) thereunder effectively locks themember into place within its respective frame member (21), (22). Upon aloosening of the knob (92), thus backing off pressure of the knob stem(93) and washer (87) upon the extension member (79) or (81), therespective extension member may be longitudinally re-adjusted as to itslocation within its respective frame member (21) or (22).

[0038] To prevent an extension member (79), (81) from inadvertentlybeing pulled too far outwardly off a frame member (21), (22), aprotruding lip (94) (FIG. 5) is formed on an upper surface of and spacedinwardly from an adjacent end of the extension member (79), (81) apredetermined distance. Although the lip (94) does not prevent theextension member (79), (81) from being telescopingly inserted into arespective frame member (21), (22) with the washer (87) in place, uponthe extension member (79), (81) being pulled outwardly a certaindistance, the lip (94) will engage an edge (96) of the washer (87) andprevent further outward movement of the respective extension member(79), (81). Inward movement of an extension member (79), (81), however,is not prevented.

[0039] To aid in carrying and transporting the work stand assembly, ahandle member (97) (FIGS. 1 and 9) is provided, the member (97) havingflange elements for frictionally clamping the member (97) between and tothe frame members (21), (22) at central their lengths.

[0040] It is this seen that at least all of the stated objectives havebeen achieved. Obviously, many modifications and variations of thepresent invention are possible in the light of the aforementionedteachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope ofthe appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically claimed.

I claim:
 1. A collapsible work stand assembly, comprising: first andsecond end brackets; a first pair of support legs each connected to saidfirst end bracket and pivotally moveable from an upright, groundengaging first position to a normally horizontally extended secondposition, said first support legs disposed parallel each other in saidsecond position; a second pair of support legs each connected to saidsecond end bracket and pivotally movable from an upright, groundengaging first position to a normally horizontally extended secondposition, said second support legs disposed parallel each other in saidsecond position of said second support legs; a first cap member securedto said first end bracket; a second cap member secured to said secondend bracket; a first elongated frame member having opposed endsconnected respectively to said first and said second cap members; and asecond elongated frame member having opposed ends connected respectivelyto said first and second cap members, whereby said first and secondframe members are disposed parallel each other.
 2. The collapsible workstand assembly of claim 1, and further wherein said first and secondframe members each have opposed ends, a first elongated extension memberis telescopically inserted into said opposed end of said first framemember, and a second elongated extension member is telescopicallyinserted into said opposed end of said second frame member.
 3. Thecollapsible work stand assembly of claim 2, and further wherein saidfirst and second cap members are substantially identical, each capmember having opposed sides, each side having a channel shape forming anelongated chamber with said bracket to which said respective cap memberis secured, whereby each cap member forms a pair of parallel chambersfor receiving said pair of frame members.
 4. The collapsible work standassembly of claim 1, and further wherein said first and second framemembers are completely exposed intermediate their connections to saidend brackets for clampably receiving and supporting the mounting unit ofa contemporary power tool.
 5. A collapsible work stand assembly,comprising: a pair of elongated members disposed in parallelrelationship to each other, said members having opposed sets of ends;first bracket means supporting one said set of opposed ends; secondbracket means supporting the other said set of opposed ends; and meansfor supporting said pair of members above a ground surface wherein saidmembers are substantially horizontally disposed; said elongated membersexposed intermediate their opposed ends for clampably receiving andsupporting the mounting unit of a contemporary power tool
 6. Thecollapsible work stand assembly of claim 5, and further wherein saidopposed ends of said elongated members are also exposed, and first andsecond pairs of extension members are telescopically inserted,respectively, into said opposed ends of said elongated members.
 7. Thecollapsible work stand assembly of claim 6 and further wherein firstmeans mounted on said first bracket means is engageable with anextension member of said first pair of extension members to limitmovement of said extension member relative to said first bracket means,and second means mounted on said second bracket means is engageable withan extension member of said second pair of extension members to limitmovement of said extension member of said second pair relative to saidsecond bracket means.